Page 56 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

“Help, my foot.” Mrs. Dixon scoffed. She didn’t ask Kennedy to sit.

But standing there, towering over the bed, didn’t feel right. So Kennedy took a wooden chair and brought it close to the bed. “How are you feeling today?”

Mrs. Dixon’s faded gray eyes narrowed, creasing more wrinkles around them. “How do you think I feel? Horrible, weak, and ready to throw up soon on that expensive suit of yours.”

Kennedy winced and resisted the urge to move further away. Her fingers tightened around the seat’s wooden edges so much they bit into her skin. “Anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”

“A new life would be nice, but you can’t give that to me, can you?”

Kennedy squirmed in her seat. She missed Austin more and more, for more reasons than one. This lady didn’t seem to want to allow any joy into her life. Kennedy could relate more than she wanted. Would she have ended up like this, minus the cats, if Austin, Caramel, and Smiley hadn’t appeared in her life? Was she looking at her future? “Um, how about fluffing your pillow for now?”

Mrs. Dixon grimaced. “Do you even know how to fluff a pillow?”

Kennedy lifted her chin. “Well, Idowork in the hospitality industry.”

“You just tell other people what to do.”

“Not always.” Kennedy held out the box like a shield. “Would you like some chocolates?”

Mrs. Dixon’s lips pursed. “Just more things for me to throw up.”

Interesting that the doctor hadn’t mentioned that detail. Okay, maybe showing up here wasn’t a good idea. This situation required the social skills, optimism, and patience Austin had and Kennedy never would.

Proving her point, he walked into the room, and Mrs. Dixon brightened as if someone turned a switch.

“I saidI’dvisit Mrs. Dixon today,” Kennedy muttered despite being glad for his presence.

She was out of ways to cheer up Mrs. Dixon and would rather surrender that mission to her much more sunshiny—was that even a word?—husband. But there was more than that. She simply liked being around him. He infused the atmosphere with joy like the air freshener in her office infused it with vanilla scent. He was walking, breathing serotonin or some unknown chemical her organism needed for pure survival, and her entire body reacted to the influx of the much-needed dose.

Austin leaned in to kiss her cheek, sending a delicious wave through her and making everything better. “And I appreciate it very much and admire you for that, darling.”

Then he marched to the window and opened the blinds. “What a beautiful day!”

“What’s beautiful about it?” Mrs. Dixon grumbled.

Austin’s smile didn’t fade as he turned around. The sunlight highlighted the cherry hues in his hair, and all Kennedy wanted at that moment was to run her fingers through that hair, then place her palm on his nape, and bring him closer so she could kiss him. She’d fantasized about the kiss before it happened at the castle, but now she longed for it even more because she knew how incredible it could be. Her pulse spiked, and her breathing shallowed. She was melting like the ice cubes in the water glass on the table. No, much faster.

“I can come up with a long list of the things that make this day beautiful. I’ll start with the fact that you and my wonderful wife are in it.” He fluffed the pillow, then poured fresh water, and brought the glass to the woman’s lips. “Thirsty?”

“Yes.” Mrs. Dixon took a few careful sips.

Kennedy nearly slapped her forehead. Why hadn’t she thought of that?

Leaning against the pillows again, Mrs. Dixon looked at Austin, then at Kennedy. Then her face took on an upset expression as if she were about to spew something she didn’t want to. “Well, whether I want it or not, it’s about to happen.”

Uh-oh. Kennedy leaned to snatch the pan.

Mrs. Dixon waved it away. “Oh please. I’m not going to throw up, thoughyoumight by the time I’m done.”

Kennedy did start feeling sort of nauseous. Stepping behind her, Austin braced his hands on her shoulders, and somehow that made nausea step away. She reached up and gripped his fingers, her heart softening. She wasn’t going to stay late at work today. What would he say if she suggested making dinner together? Her lips curved up.

“My prognosis isn’t good,” Mrs. Dixon stared at the wall.

Kennedy’s heart dropped.

“We’ll pray for you. I have been praying already. Things can change,” Austin said.

Compassion squeezed Kennedy’s heart as it thudded back into its rightful place. “Maybe there’s some experimental treatment. We can fly in specialists if needed.”

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